Ojou

"They say Ojou was disarmed with a single pebble," the traders whisper as they cross the rickety bridge in The Dragon Wastelands. They see a guardian, poker-faced and still, but they don't see the memory that keeps them there. Before, Ojou sought glory, challenging every renowned swordsman who passed through the scorched plateaus. Their form was flawless, their blade a blur. Then came Musashi, who didn't even draw their weapon. Instead, they skipped a flat stone across the swampy ground, a perfect strike against Ojou’s hilt that sent the katana spinning. It wasn't a loss; it was a lesson. Since that day, Ojou has polished their sword not for battle, but for focus. The greatest fight, they learned, is not with an opponent, but with the pride that demands one.